Middle School Youth Ministry
ECHOFIRE
Thursday Nights at 6:00PM-8:00PM in the Catacombs, for 6th-8th grade students.
Welcome to Middle School Youth Ministry! You know what that means? Along with maturing in your Middle School experience, you’re also maturing in your walk of faith with Jesus Christ. You’re probably starting to ask more questions, and seek out deeper community with friends in the Church who can help you grow. There is no better way to achieve this than to attend weekly youth group. Weekly youth group will also allow you to develop as a disciple of Christ! Join us for talks on relatable topics in our Church and society, applying scripture to daily life, games, small groups, friendships, and more. For more information, contact Greg at gregj@stthomasmore.org.
Hey Middle School Students!
We offer weekly youth group (called EchoFire), four retreats a year, a mission trip in the summer, fun days (The Turkey Bowl, The Thanksgiving Potluck, Mary’s Baby Shower Party, and more!), as well as monthly service opportunities. See below for more information.
Want to Volunteer in Middle School Youth Ministry?
Our leadership team is made up of adult volunteers and high school mentors. High school students help out through our mentor program, allowing them to grow in leadership skills and build connections with our middle school students. Learning from and getting guidance from an older peer is a crucial part of youth ministry, and if you are interested in being on our leadership team, contact Greg at gregj@stthomasmore.org.
Register for Middle School Ministry below.
Additional Middle School Opportunities
Explore the list and links below for more opportunities to get involved.
Guy’s Sports Group (Summer Only)
Males only. Select Fridays. See the calendar for dates.
“Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (1 Cor. 9:25). Run the race and train for the prize—the eternal prize of our life in Christ Jesus. Exercise your muscle of self-discipline, teamwork, and challenging your thought process as you open the word of God with your Middle School male peers. Join us for bro time through Bible Study and playing various sports. In the Summer, we begin by attending Mass.
Service Opportunities
The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” (Mt. 25:40).We work to provide a variety of service opportunities to middle-school teens including soup kitchen service and serving within the greater parish community, among many other opportunities.
St. Elizabeth Sandwich Line – Second Saturday each month: 9:00AM-12:30PM
Students and their families are invited to help our brothers and sisters in need at the St. Elizabeth Sandwich Line. Prepare meals, enjoy each other’s company, and serve in community. Contact Greg Johnson for details at gregj@stthomasmore.org.
Project 600 – A massive annual Christmas party for inner-city kids from some of the poorest areas of Denver. This project incorporates volunteer preparation for athe event, as well as generous parish toy donations as Christmas gifts for the kids. Click here to learn more.
SOUPer Bowl of Caring – All middle school, high school youth and their families are invited to help our brothers and sisters in need on SuperBowl Sunday. We break into teams, ask for donations at different grocery stores around STM, sort and box donations, and deliver them. All donations go to the Food Bank in downtown Denver! This is a yearly event!
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Youth Group Photos
Mr. Greg Johnson
Hello, I’m Greg Johnson, one of the Middle School Youth Ministers at St. Thomas More Catholic Parish. I am also from Denver, Colorado – I was born and raised here, and I was involved with youth ministry here at STM during middle school and high school. I attended school here at STM from 4th – 8th grade, high school at Regis Jesuit and graduated from Benedictine College in 2010, majoring in Theology & PE with an emphasis on Coaching. I am so blessed to be back at STM working in the youth ministry department. The youth ministry program and the people involved made such an amazing impact on my life; now I get the great privilege to be a positive influence to the youth that are involved and lead them all closer to Jesus Christ and His Church.
Ms. Biz Vall
Hi everyone! My name is Biz, short for Elizabeth. I am thrilled to be the Youth and Young Adult Minister here at STM. I mainly work with Young Adult Ministry and High School Youth Ministry beside David, but I frequently work alongside Greg with the middle schoolers as well. A little about me – I am quite the mountain enthusiast; my favorite pastimes are rock climbing and painting nature scenery. I also hike frequently, and it has been one of the greatest joys of ministry to take the high schoolers up some 14ers with me this past summer. I walked the entire Camino de Santiago with my father in 2023, and I plan on walking the Chimayo pilgrimage in New Mexico with our High School Youth Ministry next year. Ever since I spent the summer in 2024 as a Totus Tuus missionary, I’ve had a strong devotion to Pope Saint John Paul II, and this experience is what called me into youth ministry. I am blessed to be here at STM, and very thankful for the opportunity to minister to you!